Every NBA team needs a duo that could lead the franchise to their main goal, which is winning the NBA title. In the history of the league, there have been many iconic pairs like Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant, LeBron James and Dwyane Wade, Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen, they all have given incredible results to the team winning the championship together. Unfortunately, there are some dynamic duos who performed brilliantly but were never able to achieve this success together.
#10 Steve Nash and Amare Stoudemire
During the 2000s, the Phoenix Suns had one of the strongest teams in the league, with Steve Nash leading them. “Captain Canada” evolved from an All-Star in Dallas to a superstar in Phoenix, winning two MVP awards for his performance. Amare Stoudemire also became an All-Star as the best scorer. Nash and Stoudemire had great chemistry, but they always fell short in the playoffs. In 2007, Amare’s controversial suspension ended their best chance of reaching the finals.
#9 Chris Webber and Peja Stojakovic
The 2002 Sacramento Kings were considered the best team, but they still didn’t win the NBA championship. They faced the LA Lakers in the seven-game classic series, and controversial refereeing and the difficult task of facing the dynamic duo of Shaq and Kobe led to their loss. Chris and Peja together led the Kings and helped them reach the finals, but they just fell one game short of winning the championship. Webber’s greatness led to him being cited as the best power forward in the game, along with Tim Duncan, Dirk Nowitzki and Kevin Garnett. Stojakovic also became a superstar with his three-point skills.
#8 Chris Paul and Blake Griffin
In 2010, the Los Angeles Clippers were a great performing team and everyone believed they would have a big rise in the league. Chris Paul and Blake Griffin made the Clippers arguably the most lively team in the NBA, with a terrific support roster. However, they fell just short to teams like Golden State, Houston Rockets and Oklahoma City, leading to a series of postseason failures.
#7 Tracy McGrady and Yao Ming
Both Tracy McGrady and Yao Ming were amazing players, but their legacy was understated because they never came close to winning the NBA Championship. When McGrady was traded to the Houston Rockets, he was one of the league’s most incredible players, along with Kobe Bryant and Tim Duncan. When Yao Ming was selected by the Rockets, there were huge expectations. Ming’s prime saw him become the second-best center after Shaq. Despite individual greatness, the duo of McGrady and Ming never reached the championship.
#6 Gary Payton and Shawn Kemp
Gary Payton and Shawn Kemp were a fantastic duo in the 90s and “The Reignman” was at his prime that time. Had it not been for Michael Jordan’s epic Chicago Bulls team in 1996, the Seattle SuperSonics would have had a better chance to win it all. Payton was the team leader with his strong defense, playmaking skills and work ethic, which made him a superstar. On the other hand, Kemp was a more polarizing talent who struggled at his worst but dominated at his best. Seattle managed to push the Bulls team to six games in the 1996 Finals, but fell short.
#5 Allen Iverson and Carmelo Anthony
Allen and Carmelo both had individual brilliance and talent. Together, they were the best but never achieved the ultimate goal. Their story became more saddening when the duo failed to put up together and legitimately compete for a title with the Denver Nuggets. “Melo” developed a greater chemistry with Chauncey Billups in the future seasons and made it to the Western Conference Finals without AI. However, Iverson and Anthony’s pair could have been iconic if they had better coordination.
#4 Jerry West and Elgin Baylor
Jerry West and Elgin Baylor always had success together for the Los Angeles Lakers. Sadly, they fell short of winning an NBA championship together, leading to the strangest ending to their iconic duo story. Baylor retired from the league nine games into the 1971–1972 season due to injuries. This was the season Jerry finally won a title with the Lakers. Baylor’s unfortunate timing caused him to miss out on winning the NBA ring with his best partner.
#3 John Stockton and Karl Malone
John Stockton and Karl Malone showed great chemistry together while playing for the Utah Jazz. Stockton was the best point guard in the league during that time and Malone was the most reliable scorer. Both admired each other’s play and also became consecutive All-Stars and two-time Western Conference champions. However, Michael Jordan’s historic Chicago Bulls stopped Utah twice in the NBA Finals and the duo was not able to win the title together.
#2 Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook
Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook both became superstars at a young age and led the Oklahoma City Thunder. Thunders’ roster faced the Miami Heat in the 2012 NBA Finals before falling short to LeBron James. Oklahoma City fans saw some of their postseason run end early due to injuries. In the 2016 Western Conference Finals, Thunder swept Golden State Warriors with a 3-1 series lead, and Durant left free agency to end the run.
#1 Shaquille O’Neal and Penny Hardaway
The duo of Shaquille O’Neal and Penny Hardaway for the Orlando Magic was excellent. Both players played incredibly well together, as Shaq was dominant while Hardaway was dynamic. In the 1995 NBA Finals, the Orlando Magic were favorites to win against Houston Rockets. However, Orlando lost all their confidence after losing Game 1 due to a terrible collapse. After this, Shaq joined the LA Lakers, while Penny’s career was destroyed by injury.
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